The Supreme Court today ruled that only the Public Services Commission (PSC) can issue orders to the Provincial Council chief secretary and not the Chief Minister. 

The court gave the above ruling after examining the fundamental rights application filed by Chief Secretary of the Northern Province Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Ramesh alleging administrative interference by the Chief Minister of the Northern Province C. V. Wigneswaran.

The petition was taken up before a judge bench comprising Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, and Justices K. Sri Pawan and Rohini Marasinghe.

The FR petition states that there was an attempt to unlawfully remove Mrs. Ramesh from office and a circular according to which pubic servants of the North cannot travel out of the province without the Chief Minister’s permission; public servants cannot communicate with the government without permission from the Chief Minister.

In March, the Supreme Court said that the impugned document by Northern Province Chief Minister pertaining to standing administrative orders issued to the Chief secretary of the Province appeared to encroach on the rights of the appointing authority of the Chief Secretary, the President, the National Public Services commission and the Provincial Public Service Commission.

However, MP M.A. Sumanthiran, Attorney-at-Law, appearing on behalf of the CM stated that the Supreme Court today urged both parties to cooperate with one another to ensure an efficient provincial council.

The court also decided to conclude hearing on the petition today.